Port of L.A. engineer intentionally derailed train in attempted attack on USNS Mercy, federal prosec

[christx30]

Source: KTLA 5, Los Angeles

A train engineer at the Port of Los Angeles is facing federal charges for allegedly charging a locomotive off tracks toward the USNS Mercy, which he suspected is tied to a government plot, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Eduardo Moreno, 44, of San Pedro, was handed over to FBI agents Wednesday and charged with one count of train wrecking in Tuesday’s derailment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

Moreno admitted he purposefully ran the train off the end of its tracks at full speed near the hospital ship in two separate interviews, officials said.

He allegedly told investigators he believed the ship — which docked at the port last week to relieve strain on area hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak — had a secret purpose related to COVID-19 or a government takeover.

Read more: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/port-of-l-a-engineer-intentionally-derailed-train-in-attempted-attack-on-usns-mercy-federal-prosecutors-say/

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Looks like nutjobs haven't taken the day off.

[GreydeeThos]

1. Que Annon is strong in this one.

[pansypoo53219]

34. a q idiot popped in my head.

[Make7]

2. Train wrecking? That's an actual charge? Can we charge Trump with that? His handling of this has been a train wreck. ( n/t )

[christx30]

7. We can also add arson of a trash receptacle

because his administration is a dumpster fire.

[Mr. Evil]

12. IKR

Who knew "train wrecking" was actually a thing.

[SCantiGOP]

20. I imagine

Any ‘train wrecking’ charge will be upgraded to domestic terrorism and attempted mass murder very quickly.

[Chellee]

24. I mean, seriously, doesn't everybody know that?? nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. He forgot trains don't have steering wheels.

(snip)

Firefighters responded around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to the port, where the train came to rest about 250 yards from the Mercy after crashing through a series of barriers. No injuries were reported, but it did trigger a fuel spill that prompted a hazardous materials cleanup.

Moreno tried to flee the scene but was detained by a California Highway Patrol officer who witnessed the incident, officials said. The officer reported seeing the train smash through a concrete barrier, steel barrier and chain-link fence before sliding across a parking lot and lot filled with gravel, coming to rest against another chain-link fence.

Who among us knew trains are not 4-wheel drive with short-radius steering?......

[jberryhill]

9. Hello Chicago!

[Chicago1980]

25. Ahhh, 'Silver Streak'

Scattman Crothers

[jberryhill]

27. I'll drink to that!

[niyad]

5. Honestly, one would think that he would be happy that the ship was picking up the pedophile

Victims from Hillary's sex ring. (Somebody actually told me that on Monday.)

[keithbvadu2]

14. From a pizza parlor basement that does not exist.

From a pizza parlor basement that does not exist.

[niyad]

18. Sadly enough, that was not the craziest thing that I heard yesterday, or today.

[csziggy]

38. Halfway across the country from where it didn't happen. nt

[Maggiemayhem]

15. Do you live near me

[niyad]

19. I have no idea. But there are conspiracy theorists everywhere.

[jmbar2]

42. I saw that on Free Republic last nite

There are a bunch of QAnon posts that claim the emergency medical treatment centers are actually slave quarters to house all the "800,000 children who have gone missing".

This is some serious deza.

[niyad]

45. Dear Goddes, is that waste of virtual space still operating???

[JohnnyRingo]

6. "One count of train wrecking"

Immediately, I think of the multiple charges in the current administration, but it's a law that doesn't get used much these days.

The reason for the law isn't because people use trains as terror weapons, but rather that it was a form of entertainment back in the days of steam. PT Barnum like hucksters would stage a head on collision and sell tickets. That's certainly something I'd want to see, especially in those days before TV and the internet.

Like all fun things, it's ok until someone gets hurt, and got hurt they did. and killed. Soon there were laws written to ban such displays:

https://owlcation.com/humanities/Head-On-Train-Crashes-as-Entertainment

[Igel]

13. At least it provided grist for Joplin to write something.

Not his greatest, but nice anyway.

[jberryhill]

8. That guy is off the rails

[Ford_Prefect]

10. As nutbar as the whole of the GOP from top to bottom,from party leaders to base voters.

He's no less a citizen of the alternate view than the Orangutan in the Whitehouse and those who enable him.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. He much have watched "Speed" one too many times

[no matrix]

32. Thank you for posting that clip!

One can never get enough of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock steaming up the silver screen with that kiss!!!!

"The whim of a madman" was one of the best lines Dennis Hopper ever delivered.

Hollywood.

We return you to the pandemic.....

[AllaN01Bear]

16. whelp , looks like he aint going to drive a train no mo ma .

[flibbitygiblets]

17. Is this another stupid April Fools joke? FFS when will this day be over?

[Progressive Jones]

22. No, it's very real. nt

[bubbazero]

21. Sir Toppum Hat will be very, very Cross

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2020, 11:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Think of the response when you are branded in the prison as the guy who attacked a ship with a train. Probably get plenty of social distancing--and not for COVID-19

[SunSeeker]

23. Good grief. But does that even count as mentally ill nowadays?

He sounds like my right wing in-laws, who are convinced that horrible Las Vegas concert mass shooting at Mandalay Bay Hotel was an FBI inside job.

[Lulu KC]

41. It's a fine line, isn't it?

I wonder the same thing all the time.

[John Fante]

26. One less vote for Trump.

[dawg day]

28. Can we spell Q?

Quidiot, that is.

[Major Nikon]

39. No doubt

Sometimes stupid is dangerous

[sarisataka]

29. Just another 250 yards

Plus a jump ramp concealed in a pile of trash and he would have been flying over the water towards the ship...

[jmowreader]

30. The law he broke is 18 USC 1992

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1992

“Whoever...knowingly...wrecks, derails, sets fire to or disables railroad on-track equipment...shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.”

My question is, how did a Q-Anon Follower get a Transport Workers Identification Credential in the first place?

[Marcuse]

31. Ouch.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

33. I think his motive is loco. nt

[NurseJackie]

35. Groan!

.
.
.

[ewagner]

36. Thunderdome? Lord of Flies?

Is this where we're heading?

I know there are a lot of conservative/para-military types running around loose....this may be the excuse they've been looking for to use all that fire power.

hope they never get organized.

[jayfish]

37. "I Don't Know About You But; Next Time I'm Going To Take The Bus"

[Lulu KC]

40. Seriously

I think this one is untreated mental illness, not just a casual MAGA "crazy."
The guy needs his meds updated and a long career where no public safety is at risk in case he misses a day.

What a time we're living in.

[lagomorph777]

43. I'll bet something on Fux, Twit, or Falsebook set him off.

Probably TrumPutin is behind whatever conspiracy theory is floating around.

[BrightKnight]

44. It sounds like he has been drinking too many Trump quarantinis

[vanamonde]

46. I'd have to guess he didn't intend to actually hit the ship

Last edited Thu Apr 2, 2020, 07:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I checked closely on Google maps and if the locomotive had continued in the same direction it was going when it left the track it would simply have gone into the Gateway Plaza fountain and pool. And only that if it had enough momentum and/or traction to get that far once off the track. Was he hoping to crash into one of the Seaside Freeway concrete supports and bring down the freeway?

Sheesh, what a dope.